| Subject: E Timor to open its first Mideast
embassy in Kuwait
East Timor to open its first Mideast embassy in Kuwait
Kuwait Times.
April 14, 2005 6:34am
Asia Intelligence Wire
KUALA LUMPUR: East Timor is proud to consider the state of Kuwait as
its first target to open an embassy in the Middle East region, a senior
East Timor official has said. "We will consider Kuwait as the first
target once we decide to open a diplomatic representation in the Middle
East region", said the Prime Minister of East Timor Mari Bin Amude
Al-Katiri yesterday. Speaking after the presentation of credentials of
Kuwaiti Ambassador to Indonesia and non-resident envoy to East Timor
Mohammad Fadhel Khalaf yesterday, Al-Katiri said that the state of Kuwait
is a very essential friend to East Timor as both countries have common
similarities in a number of aspects.
Al-Katiri described the current level of relations as
"excellent", calling on the same time to increase the level of
cooperation in other arenas such as investment and trade.
He said that with the ambassador's handing in his credentials as a
non-resident diplomat to his country, there is a more expanded grounds for
the ties to be further enhanced to cover other spheres.
He welcomed the Kuwaiti investments and businessmen wishing to invest
in his country saying that the law in East Timor grants them full
guarantees and that the market in his country is promising.
Al-Katiri expressed his gratitude to the government of Kuwait
represented by the Kuwait Red Crescent Society (KRCS) to contribute a
water desalination plant to his country saying such initiative is "a
very important contribution" as East Timor suffers shortage in water
resources.
Asked whether an East Timorese representation would be opened in Kuwait
in the near future, Al-Katiri said "when we find the right person we
will consider this initiative".
Asked about the petroleum cooperation with the Kuwait Foreign Petroleum
Exploration Company (Kufpec), the premier said that the Kuwaiti company's
presence in exploration operations in East Timor was very vital for the
country's economy. Al-Katiri added that by the end of next May, an
enforced law on petroleum operations would be issued after completing
deliberations over it by the parliament and would assist the country's
economy by dealing with many foreign worldwide companies including the
Kufpec.
He said that his recent visit to Kuwait was very successful, praising
the hospitality offered to his delegation by the senior Kuwaiti government
officials.
He expressed hope that both countries ties go beyond ordinary relations
to include wider aspects of cooperation in a number of arenas of common
interests.
The state of Kuwait was present in the independence day of East Timor
and was represented by Kuwaiti Ambassador to that country Mohammad Fadhel
Khalaf.
Relations at the ambassadorial level were initiated in December 2003
and the signing ceremony was supervised by Khalaf and the East Timorese
government officials.
Al-Katiri visited Kuwait last May aboard Kuwait Airways airliner (Al-Jabriya)
from Bali to Kuwait as ordered by His Highness the Amir of Kuwait Sheikh
Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.
East Timor was among the first countries that denounced the Iraqi
invasion of Kuwait in August 1990 and supported the just causes of Kuwait
in the international arenas.
The second significant visit to Kuwait was made by the Senior Minister
and Foreign Minister Dr Jose Ramos Horta, a Nobel Prize for peace figure.
The visit was followed by a visit by the Minister of Internal Affairs
Rogerio Tiago Lobato conveying a message to His Highness the Prime
Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah.
Japan occupied East Timor during 1942-1945, but Portugal resumed
colonial authority after the Japanese defeat in World War II. East Timor
declared itself independent from Portugal on 28 November 1975 and was
invaded and occupied by Indonesian forces nine days later. It was
incorporated into Indonesia in July 1976 as the province of East Timor. An
unsuccessful campaign of pacification followed over the next two decades,
during which an estimated 100,000 to 250,000 individuals lost their lives.
On 30 August 1999, in a UN-supervised popular referendum, an overwhelming
majority of the people of East Timor voted for independence from
Indonesia.* Kuna
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